Haywood County landowners can apply for cost-share grants to install practices that improve water quality on agricultural operations.  

Practices eligible for funding include watering tanks, fencing, streambank stabilization, pastureland improvement, sediment control on agriculture lands, agri-chemical buildings, forest stand improvement and many more. Cost share assistance for contracts will pay a percentage for actual costs of installation of projects.  

This program is offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Bill programs. Interested farmers should stop by the USDA office located at 589 Racoon Road, Suite 203, Waynesville, NC, 28786 by Dec. 17.

Another incentive program called Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is for operations that provide good management, show little erosion and demonstrate positive land stewardship. This program has not been offered in the past but has the potential to provide qualified landowners annual incentive payments for up to five years. This includes trout hatcheries, nursery operations, cropland, pastureland, wildlife and forestry.

For more information, contact Kara M. Cassels, District Conservationist, at 828.452,2741, ext. 3, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..